Singapore_CEMS Report - Verwaltung

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Life in Singapore During your stay in Singapore, you will not only experience Singaporean culture but a blend of all Asian cultures be it in gastronomy, festivals, languages, traditions and much more. Singapore is significantly more expensive than other Southeast Asian cities, a lot safer, and very straightforward when it comes to transportation or any other day-‐to-‐day issue. Below I will expose some of the most important aspects you need to be aware of before leaving there and after you arrive. Transport Once you land in Singapore, you have two options for transportation, the MRT (the subway) or a taxi. The taxis all speak English (some of them better than others), be sure to have your address with you. The taxi fare will vary depending on time of day. There will be an “airport surcharge” of 3SGD. If you take the taxi at rush hour (8-‐10 am and 5-‐7pm) there is a meter surcharge of 35% and if you take it after midnight there is a meter surcharge of 50%. Generally, taxis are quite cheap compared to Europe, average taxi ride is 10-‐15SGD (c.7-‐8EUR) for very decent distances (15min ride), but again it depends on the time of day and your destination Finally it is important to note that Singapore and Hong Kong are the only places where the taxis are regulated and as such you do not need to bargain or negotiate. The fare on the meter is clearly displayed and it is illegal for cabs to overcharge or tout. For the MRT, you can only take the green line from the airport and you might have to change lines or switch to bus depending on your end destination. Be sure to prepare this ahead of time. It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes by public transport to arrive at NUS from the airport because it is located in the very east of Singapore while NUS is in the west. Public transport is easy and super efficient (buses and MRT). NUS Business school is served by many buses but no MRT -‐ bus 183, 10, 200... Tip: best website to get around is www.gothere.sg you can prepare all your journeys in advance. It has proven quite helpful for a lot of us. Eat and drink One of the best things in Singapore is Food and Drinks. You will find a huge variety of food: Indian, Malay, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, “Western”… 15
Food Courts: most of Singaporeans don’t cook, but eat at the food court. Different stalls offer a huge variety of Asian specialties. Once you buy your meal, you meet with your friends at one of the common tables. Very cheap and convenient. On the Campus, food courts are very good and very cheap. Restaurants: you will also find a lot of restaurants, offering all kind of food. The prices are then more similar to what you can find in Europe, especially if you are in the nightlife district (Clarke Quay). Very good and cheap Indian food can be found in Little India. Fast Food: Usual fast food can be found all over Singapore (and even on the campus): KFC, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Subway, Pizza Hut, … Most of these brands also offer home delivery, which can be useful since housing can be far from restaurants. 24/7 service is also available most of the time! You will also find some local fast food chains, like MOS burger and its famous “Rice Burger” Drinks: Drinks are usually purchased at a specific stall. A large choice of ice teas and iced coffees is usually offered, along with the delicious Milo (a malted chocolate milk). Vending machines offer everywhere very special kinds of drinks, such as Aloe Vera drinks and herbal teas. Most of them are very good. Alcohol is very expensive compared to the rest of the food and beverage. Some local beers are very refreshing but rather thin compared to German beers, like the Tiger beer. Travel around I cannot discuss here all the different destinations that you can visit. If you like backpacking, you will be in heaven! After all, you are not in Singapore just to study. After all, when do you get the chance to visit and experience so many different countries and cultures? Here is a list of countries that I have visited, some of them more than once: Malaysia, Indonesia, Macau & Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. Many low cost airlines operate from Changi Airport: Tiger Airways, Air Asia, Jetstar, Cebu Pacific, Zest, … Register to their Newsletter to be informed of the discounts! You can also travel to Malaysia by bus. It is fast and very (very!) comfortable. In Singapore itself, a lot of natural reserve and parks make it possible to relax. A Nickname for Singapore is “The garden city”. The beachfront is not really “scenic” but you can enjoy cool barbecues there, and even try some cable-‐wakeboarding. Clubbing and pubbing Most of the nightlife is gathered in the city center, mostly around Clarke Quay (pronounced Klah Key). Parties are organized in nightclubs by Student’s unions and Expats. Register to the related Facebook groups to be aware of what’s going on. Best nightclubs are Attica, New Asia Bar & Stereo Lounge. You can also party in Sentosa, a Singaporean island dedicated to entertainment. A few clubs are to be found there, like the WaveHouse (where you can surf an artificial wave during your night), or Azura for very nice beach parties. In December, “Zoukout” festival is held on Sentosa with this year David Guetta and Tiesto playing. 2 casinos are also available if you enjoy gambling. The most recent one, Marina Bay Sands, is impressive! 16
Page 1 and 2: CEMS - NUS Singapore Report One sem
Page 3 and 4: Why NUS and Singapore? First-class
Page 5 and 6: Please note that your offer of admi
Page 7 and 8: Please note that not all health ser
Page 9 and 10: The participation fee is 350SGD (c.
Page 11 and 12: Concerning language courses, I have
Page 13 and 14: when applying the most appropriate
Page 15: There is also no clear platform whe
Page 19: Conclusion I had the time of my lif

Singapore_CEMS Report - Verwaltung

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